Fringe: The New SCI-FI Thriller from Fox

A mad scientist with comedic tendencies, his one lining son and a bevy of FBI agents all add to the Fox storyline that is Fringe. Oh and lets not forget the cow, Jean.

Anna Torv our leading lady is Olivia Dunham an FBI agent. Olivia solves the premiere episode's case aptly enough to receive an invitation to join the Fringe division at Homeland Security.

Solving that case took the assistance of Dr.Walter Bishop, portrayed to perfection by John Noble; a former Government fringe scientist, locked up in the local mental institution for human experimentation. A court order stating only family members have access to the demented fringe scientist introduces Olivia to Peter Bishop.

Peter the MIT dropout, gambling ner do well son of Dr. Walter Bishop. Peter's role is portrayed by Joshua Jackson; Peter is dragged into this fringe debacle unwillingly by Olivia, where her unconventional tactics cause Peter to reunite with his father. Peter is in for a few eye opening moments as his fathers past is revealed. Peter gets drafted to care for his father and to communicate with him since he is often the only person able to figure out what he is talking about.

Lance Reddick gives us Phillip Broyles, special agent of the Fringe Division at Homeland security. Agent Broyles directs the team and adds necessary fringe case data as needed. Broyles character is still fuzzy around the edges after turning 180 degrees in attitude from the premiere episode.

Astrid Farnsworth another FBI agent/ lab assistant spends her time chasing down Dr. Bishops strange and often exotic list of necessary lab material, items like Jean the cow. Jasika Nicole does a fine job as Astrid.

Kirk Acevedo portrays Charlie Francis, Olivia's comrade and friend at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, coming to the rescue, providing backup and generally supporting our heroine.

Nina Sharp, of Massive Dynamics, a global corporation with sinister capability... or not, it's still too early to tell so far, I'd say sinister. Blair Brown gives an excellent performance as Nina, a strong woman, with an unusual prosthetic provided by the founder of Massive Dynamics.

Mark Valley was a 'live' character, Olivia's partner and lover John Scott. After being infected by a fringe virus his skin became transparent as the virus progressed his prognosis was fatal. Olivia saved the day by being injected with an illegal drug cocktail; then immersed in an enclosed tank of liquid by the good doctor, to achieve a psychic link with John.

The plot thickens when Olivia finds John has turned double agent and causes his death in a car chase. Don't worry John isn't done yet, he manages to reappear in future episodes, possibly due to the psychic link and confuse the issue as to whether or not he really was a bad guy. More fringe science...

The premiere episode wasn't bad by any means, yet the second out shone it, garnering more viewers and ratings. The show has evolved; the characters refined and settled in. Most definitely worth your time if you are a sci-fi addict like me.

Plots are well thought out and the future looks wide open, so come on in and add some of Fox's fringe science and a truly "mad" scientist to your television diet, they are well worth it!